Leaders in Transition
L.A.’s new mayor, Karen Bass, last week announced the members of her transition advisory team, and many names are familiar to local businesspeople. Among the five honorary co-chairs are Dominic Ng, the chief executive of East West Bank, and Steve Soboroff, a longtime civic and business leader. And on the nearly 100-member main advisory committee are such business leaders as Raul Anaya, Danny Bakewell Sr., Carol Folt, Linda Griego, Deborah La Franchi, Tim Leiweke, Mary Leslie, Cynthia McClain Hill and Maria Salinas, among others.
One observer said the list represents a good dose of the old guard of Los Angeles civic affairs. Some, such as Soboroff, La Franchi and McClain Hill, advised or otherwise served former Mayor Richard Riordan a quarter century ago.
Lest anyone think business has too strong a presence, other groups – notably labor – are well represented on the advisory committee, too. For example, two of the co-chairs are Dolores Huerta, a labor leader, and Yvonne Wheeler, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
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With more than 600 people attending Central City Association’s holiday bash Dec. 6 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, it was announced that Nella McOsker would be the association’s next president and chief executive.
McOsker, who played a leadership role in her father Tim McOsker’s successful campaign for the Los Angeles City Council last month, joined the association in 2019 as vice president of strategic relations. She worked earlier as a consultant for the association, which advocates for downtown business interests and downtown generally.
McOsker succeeds Jessica Lall, who will become managing director of CBRE Group Inc.’s downtown Los Angeles office.
Staff Reporter Howard Fine contributed to this column. The Insider is compiled by Editor-in-Chief Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].
